Year 7 Number patterns task

You already know about odd and even numbers, but did you know that there are many
other types of numbers out there? This project will enable you to investigate some of
the lesser understood but fascinating number patterns that exist. Follow the
instructions and have fun!

You should provide explanation (in your own words) of each number pattern and how it
can be calculated. You should answer all questions and show all working out. Where
necessary draw diagrams. Make sure the reader can understand everything that you do.

Please ensure that your work is neat!

Question One – Square numbers

The smallest square number is one. It can be represented by this small square.

The second square number is 4. It can be represented by this square.

a) What are the third and fourth square numbers?

9,16

b) Draw diagrams to represent these numbers.

c) Is there an easier method of finding square numbers? Explain.

d) Which of these numbers are square numbers? 16, 20, 24, 25, 11, 9?

16,9

e) List the first 10 square numbers.

1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64,81,100.
 Question Two – Triangular numbers.

Here are diagrams that represent the first three triangular numbers.

a) What are the first three triangular numbers?

1,3,6
b) Draw diagrams to represent the fourth and fifth triangular numbers.

c) What are these numbers?

d) Is there an easier method of finding triangular numbers? Explain.

e) List the first ten triangular numbers. Explain how you calculated them.

Question Three – Pyramidal numbers

The first two pyramidal numbers are 1 and 5. They can be represented by these
diagrams;

Here is a drawing of the third pyramidal number.

a) What is value of this number?

b) Draw a diagram of the fourth pyramidal number.

c) What is the value of this number?

d) Can you think of a method of calculating pyramidal numbers without having to

draw a diagram? Explain what you would do. Show some calculations.

e) Calculate the fifth and sixth pyramidal numbers.

 Show your working out.

Question four – Pascals’ Triangle

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a French mathematician and

philosopher. As a child he showed amazing mathematical ability
and enjoyed investigating mathematics. One of these
investigations involved exploring the properties and patterns of
numbers in a triangular arrangement known today as Pascals’
triangle. The first five rows are shown below.

1 1

1 2 1

1 3 3 1

1 4 6 4 1

Starting at the top, see if you can discover how the numbers in each row are calculated.

a) Explain how the triangle is formed in your own words.

b) Copy the triangle and extend it another 5 rows (you should now have 10 rows in your
triangle).

c) What is the total of each row?

d) Do these rows form a special pattern? Explain.

e) Extension – are there any other patterns in the triangle?

 Question five – Fibonacci numbers

Leonardo Fibonacci has been described as the greatest mathematician of

the middle ages. In 1202, Fibonacci wrote a book on arithmetic and
algebra in which he proposed the following problem:

A pair of rabbits one month old are too young to produce more rabbits, but suppose that in their second month and in every month thereafter they produce a
new pair. If each new pair of rabbits does the same, and none of the rabbits die, how many pairs of rabbits will there be at the beginning of each month?

Here is a diagram to represent in the first 5 months: Month Breeding

Pairs
Month 1
1 1
Month 2 2 1
3 2
Month 3 4 3
5 5
Month 4 6
7
Month 5
8
The number of pairs of rabbits at the start of each month is 9
10
called the Fibonacci sequence.
11
The first 5 numbers are shown in the table. 12
13
a) Can you see a pattern? Explain. 14
b) Copy and complete the table, explaining how you calculate 15
the remaining numbers of the sequence. 16
17
18
19
20

The Fibonacci sequence is all around us in the natural world. For example, the number
of petals on a flower or the spirals on a pine cone. Even the keys on a piano follow a
Fibonacci Sequence!
 Question Six – finding patterns!

Complete the following number patterns and explain how the pattern arises:

a) 2, 4, 6, 8, ____10, _12___, ___14__, __16___, ___18__,

_20___.

b) 2, 4, 8, 16, ____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____.

c) 1024, 1124, 1224, 1324, 1424___, `1524____, __1624__, _1724___,

__1824___, _1924____.

d) 245, 1255, 2265, 3275, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____.

e) 64, 56, 48, 40, ___, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____.

f) 2, 3, 5, 9, ___, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____.

g) 1, 2, 5, 14, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____.

h) 2, 5, 10, 17, ____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____.